Patent Brief:
Continuously Variable Transmissions are always highly fuel efficient and simple in their design. Typically such transmissions are designed with a single belt driving two variable groove pulleys. Just like any other transmission, these were typically designed with single input shaft and a single output shaft. This makes it difficult to design a hybrid vehicle since a hybrid vehicle has two independent power sources which need to be mated with the output.
The newly patented transmission design overcomes these limitations by incorporating two independent power input shafts integrated with two separate input pulleys which drive a common output pulley using a single belt. This allows for engaging the fuel engine and electric motor on their independent input shafts which can spin at different speeds at different gear ratios with respect to the output shaft. This unique transmission and its clutch arrangement also adds the flexibility to create the vehicle with various modes of hybrid such as series hybrid, parallel hybrid and series-parallel hybrid. These modes can be seamless switched based on the driving conditions.
There is an inherent capability of AWD with this transmission. It is achieved with two separate pulleys connecting to the front and rear axle of the vehicle. In this case, one of the input pulleys also becomes an output pulley and can be used drive the rear axle enabling an AWD driving mode.
With these advantages, multiple types and sizes of vehicles can be developed with varied levels of hybridization. This will enable the companies to expand their portfolio of hybrid vehicles far beyond the current models available in the market.
arinvention.com 